Legislative Report

The State Legislature is adjourned until January and the Governor has until the 15th of October to sign or veto the legislation. We don’t have a lot of time!

Please urge Governor Brown to VETO Senate Bill 649, the Small Cell Towers Bill, which allows telecommunications companies to bypass the standard permitting process and install cell towers without local government permission OR public input. His number in the Capitol is: 916-445-2841

SB 17 (Drug Pricing Transparency Bill) is also on the Governor’s desk. When it is signed, it will be the strongest drug pricing transparency measure in the nation! (I am not even going to say IF it gets signed – don’t want to jinx it!)

On the national level, we are still dealing with Congress wishing to cut Medicare spending and budget. Congress has until the first of October, but they always run a little late, so feel free to call our Representatives and Senators and let them know how we feel! Congressional leaders know that some of the harsh cuts to Medicare on the table in other proposals would never pass in an up-or-down vote. That’s why they’re trying to sneak them into law by attaching them to a must-pass spending bill, and hoping that we don’t notice them trying to break Medicare’s promise.

Don’t let them get away with it: Tell Congress to protect seniors’ earned benefits, and reject any budget that cuts Medicare. Go to https.action.aarp.org and add your name to the growing numbers opposing Medicare cuts!